Loading hopper for a transit mixer



March 30, 1965 R. E. JACKSON LOADING HOPPER FOR A TRANSIT MIXER 4Sheets-Sheet l Filed April 23, 1963 INVENTOR.

Raab-e7 E. JA c/(soA/ .N GHR.

Hoen/5A Kaze A Trae/v5 YS March 30, 1965 R. E. JACKSON 3,175,811

LOADING HOPPER FOR A TRANSIT MIXER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 23 1963g INVENTOR Rage-e7 ,5. JA cfa/50N BY MAHa/l/y, HALeT c HoeA/A KE@ ATrae/v5 Ys March 30, '1965 R. E. JACKSON 3,175,8H

LOADING HOPPER FOR A TRANSIT MIXER Filed April 23, 196:5 4 sheets-sheets PTI@ 3. 40 55 5 i 42 44 42 5 54 DI: ,LiL/1, "54

J' @of 4@- 56 INVENTOR ROBE/2r E. JA c/so/v BY MAHoA/Er, HALE/5,127-

Hofe/VBA met@ A Trae/v5 ys March 30, 1965 R, E. JACKSON LOADING HOPPERFOR A TRANSIT MIXER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 23, 1965 INVENTOR.ROBE/QT E JA @KSO/v T m mi Mw A T HMA y., 5w M Unite States Thisinvention relates to a loading hopper for a transit mixer, which hopperis positioned closely adjacent the open end of the drum of the transitmixer when loading of aggregate mix cargo in the drum is to beaccomplished, but which is automatically moved out of close proximity tothe open end of the drum when cargo discharge is to be accomplished soas to be removed from the aggregate mix discharge flow line.

The device of the present invention is especially adaptable for use withthe Tiltable Transit Mixer which is the subject of a pendingapplication, Serial No. 176,514, tiled March 1, 1962, now Patent No.3,131,913, in which there is disclosed a transit mixer in which the drumis tiltable from its normal, sharp angle of disposition in transit to areduced angle of disposition when unloading is to be attained, so thatmore rapid cargo discharge from the elevated open end of the drum may beprovided.

To aid in this rapid cargo discharge, it is an object of the presentinvention to provide means for automatically moving the loading hopperaway from the open end of the drum when the drum is tilted to dischargeposition, thereby removing it from its normal' position relative to theopen end of the drum, in which it would tend to interfere with the freeand rapid flow of the aggregate mix from the open end or' the drum, andto provide a hopper which also automatically returns to its position inclose proximity to the open end of the drum when the drum is againlowered to its normal transit position.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such a hopper' whichis freely movable upon tiltable movement of the drum without disturbingthe cargo discharge elements of the transit mixer.

It is stiil another object of the invention to provide such a hopperwhich may be readily installed on a transit mixer without substantialmodification of the drum.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a simple,mechanical interlock system for automatically moving the hopper, thusvirtually eliminating operating costs.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists of theconstruction, arrangement and combination of the various elements of theinvention whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafterset forth, pointed out in the appended claims, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a transit mixer truck partiallybroken away, and showing the drum in lowered, transit position, with thehopper of the present invention in close proximity to the open end ofthe drum;

FIG. 2 is a View similar to FIG. l, but showing the drum in raised,discharge position, with the hopper of the present invention moved awayfrom the open end of the drum;

FIG. 3 is a view taken on line 3-3 of FlG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view taken on line 4 4 of FIG. l; and

FG, 5 is a view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

A truck body frame is rearwardly supported by a rear wheel assembly 11.Said truck body frame 10 has a rear end 12, and said 'truck bodyframe 1) supports a sub-frame 13 which has a forward end 14 and a rearend 15. The sub-frame 13 is pivotally mounted on the truck body frame 16adjacent the rear end 1S of the sub-trame 13 and adjacent the rear end12 of the truck body frame atent 1t). The sub-frame 13 is adapted to beseated on the truck body frame 10 when the truck is in transit, asillustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings.

Rotatably mounted on the sub-frame 13 is a rearwardly dischargingtransit mixer drum 20 having a forwardly disposed closed end 21 and arearwardly disposed open loading and discharge end 22. Power drivingmeans, generally designated 23, are mounted on the sub-frame 13 adjacentthe forward end 14 thereof.

A main bearing housing or block 26 is disposed adjacent the closed end21 of the drurn 2) and supports a rotatable shaft 27 angularly disposedand axially aligned with and mounted on the drum 20 substantially at thecenter of the closed end 21 of the drum 2t). Power is transmitted fromthe power means 23 to impart rotational movement to the drum 20 by anysuitable means, such as an interconnection of said power means 23 with achain and sprocket assembly 29, well known in the industry.

rthe open end 22 of the drum 20 is rotatably supported in elevatedposition over the rear end 15 of the sub-frame 13 by stanchions 30, oneach of which is mounted a roller 31 which bears on an annular ring 32mounted on the drum 2t? adjacent the open end 22 of the drum 20.

As disclosed in said pending application Serial Number 176,514,hereinabove mentioned, in order to maintain a high discharge point ofthe drum Ztl, even when the closed end 21 of the drum 20 is elevated, ashereinafter described, the stanchions 3i) are mounted closely adjacentthe rear end 15 of the sub-frame 13, and more particularly, closelyadjacent the point of pivot of the sub-frame 13 on the body frame 10,and the open end 22 of the drum 20 is disposed substantially in thevertical plane of the axis of pivot of the sub-frame 13 on the bodyframe 10 so that, when the closed end 21 of the drum 29 is elevated, thelowering of the open end 22 will be relatively small.

The stanchions 30 support a frame 40 which, preferably, is arcuate,having its open ends mounted on the stanchions 30, as best illustratedin FIG. 3 of the drawings, the frame 41B being disposed in spacedrelation to the drum 2t), preferably adjacent the annular ring 32.Projecting rearwardly from the frame 40 is a plurality of support arms42 which support an annular ring 44, which is also in spaced relation tothe drum 2t) and is disposed in alignment with the open end 22 of thedrum 20.

An annular ring 46 is supported in substantially horizontal position bybraces 48 abutting on and extending rearwardly and upwardly from theannular ring 44, and, if desired, by transverse cross-braces 49 disposedbetween the braces 48 and the ring 46. The ring 46 is aligned with, orslightly above, the top of the open end 22 of the drum 2G.

Mounted on and suspended from the ring 46 is a hopper 5t), which in turnhas a loading chute 52 mounted on its lower open end, the hopper 50 andthe loading chute 52 being disposed so that, when the truck is in thetransit position illustrated in FIG. l of the drawings, the hopper 50 isin position to receive cargo and direct it, by means of the loadingchute 52, into the drum, the free end of the loading chute 52 beingpositioned inside the open end 22 of the drum 20.

A lever arm 54 is pivotally mounted intermediate its forward end S5 andits rear end 56 on the ring 44. The rear end 56 of the lever arm 54 ismounted on the ring 46. `Pivotally mounted on the forward end 55 of thelever arm 54 is a tension member 60, which may be a rod (asillustrated), or a cable, chain or other tension member. The tensionmember titl extends from the forward end 55 of the lever arm 54 to thetruck body frame 10, where the other end of the tension member 6i) ispivotally connected to the truck body frame 1G at a point 62 which islocated on the truck body frame 10 forward of the pivotal mounting ofsub-frame 13 on the truck body frame 1t). If desired, a wear plate 64may be mounted on the tension member '60 in the area where the tensionmember 60 crosses over the frame 40.

As illustrated in FlG. 3 of the drawings, although only one lever armand tension member assembly is herein described, it is preferred thattwo such assemblies be provided, one on each side of the truck bodyframe 10.

A collector chute 70 is also mounted on the ring 44, the said collectorchute 70 being disposed adjacent to and slightly below the bottom of theopen end 22 of the drum Z and extending rearwardly therefrom. Thecollector chute '70 is, therefore, disposed to receive aggregate mix asit is discharged from the drum 20 through the open end 22.

Pivotally supported below the collector chute 70, in the mannerhereinafter described, is a downwardly directed discharge chute member80, said chute member 80 being positioned so as to receive dischargecargo pouring from the open bottom of the collector chute 70. The chute80 has an upper end 82 and a lower end 84.

Upper end 82 of the chute 80 is pivotally supported by a Y-frame 86, theopen ends of the Y-frame S6 being disposed on opposite sides of thechute 80. The leg of the Y-frame 86 is pivotally mounted on andsupported by a suitable plate or frame structure 88, itself pivotallymounted on a trunnion 89. Trunnion 89 is mounted on a tranverse framedisposed between the stanchions 30. Legs 90 are pivotally mounted on theplate 88 and the truck body frame so as to additionally support thechute 80.

A hydraulic jack 100 is pivotally mounted at one end thereof on thelower extremity of the leg of the Y-frame 86, which protrudes beyond thesupport plate 88, and said hydraulic jack 100 is pivotally mounted atits other end to the chute 80 adjacent the lower end 84 of the chute 80.

Pivotally mounted on the truck body frame 10 and aligned with the block26 is a telescoping hydraulic jack 110. The upper end of the jack 110 isalso pivotally mounted on the block 26 in the preferred form of theinvention, but it will be understood that in lieu of pivotally mountingthe jack 110 on the block 26, it may be effectively pivotally mounted onthe sub-frame 13.

Articulated joints 120 are pivotally mounted on the truck body frame 10at one end thereof and on the subframe 13 at the other end thereof,preferably adjacent the sides of the truck body frame 10. Saidarticulated joints 120 act as stabilizers for the sub-frame 13 when thesub-frame 13 is elevated above the truck body frame lil. The articulatedjoints 120 are also preferably mounted rearwardly of the jack 110 inorder to furnish greater stability to the sub-frame 13 in its elevatedposition.

In operation, when in the transit position illustrated in FIG. 1 of thedrawings, the sub-frame 13 is seated on the truck body frame 10, withthe jack 110 deactivated and in collapsed position and with thearticulated joints 120 folded in position substantially parallel withthe truck body frame 10.

In this condition, the hopper 50 and the loading chute 52 mountedthereon are in the loading position illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 ofthe drawings.

When cargo discharge is to be accomplished, the jack 110 is activated toelevate the forward end 14 of the subframe 13 and, of course, to elevatethe closed end 21 of the drum 2t), with the articulated joints 120 beingextended to stabilize the sub-frame 13.

f During this action, as the open end 22 of the drum moves downwardly,the hopper 50 and the chute 52 'will be swung outwardly and upwardly sothat the chute 52 is completely removed from the open end 22 of the drum20, and the hopper 50 and the chute 52 will, as illustrated in FlGS. 2and 5 of the drawings, by reason of the interconnection of the tensionmember 60 with the lever arm 54, then be out of the line of flow ofaggro`r gate mix pouring from the open end 22 of the drum 20.

When discharge has been accomplished and it is de sired to lower theclosed end 21 of the drum 2t) to trani sit position, the reverse actiontakes place, and the hopf per Sti and the chute 52 will again,automatically, rer turn to the loading position illustrated in FIGS. 1,3i and 4 of the drawings.

For the purposes of description and illustration, thel invention hasbeen herein described and illustrated inthe drawings as applied to arearwardly discharging drumi having power drive means for the drumdisposed adjacent the closed end of the drum. It will be obvious,.however, that the invention is equally adaptable for usef with aforwardly discharging drum, and to a drum havf ing power drive meansdisposed adjacent to the discharge` end of the drum, or anywhereintermediate the closedi end and the open end of the drum.

Additionally, tension members interconnecting ther truck body frame andthe lever arm on which the hop-- per is mounted have been described andillustrated, although it will be recognized that other means of swayingthe hopper, such as fluid means, may be utilized.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what isconceived to be the most practical and'` preferred embodiment thereof,it is recognized that de partures may be made therefrom within the scopeoff the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosedherein, but is to be accorded the full scope ofthe claims so as toembrace any and all equivalent struc-A tures and devices.

l claim:

1. A loading device for a tiltable transit mixer drum rotatably disposedon a sub-frame pivotally mounted on a truck body frame, which devicecomprises:

(a) stanchions mounted on the subeframe;

(b) means on the stanchions for rotatably supporting the open end of thedrum in elevated position substantially in the vertical plane of theaxis of pivot of the sub-frame;

(c) support means mounted on the stanchions and disposed adjacent to theopen end of the drum in spaced relationship to the open end of the drum;

(d) a hopper pivotally mounted on the support means externally of theopen end of the drum;

(e) a chute mounted on the hopper and freely disposed within the openend of the drum when the open end of the drum is elevated; and

(f) means for interconnecting the hopper and the truck body frame sothat, when the sub-frame is pivotally elevated on the truck body frameand the open end of the drum is lowered, the hopper and the chute arepivoted on the support means to swing away from the open end of thedrum.

2. A loading device as defined in claim 1, wherein the support meanscomprises:

(a) an arcuate frame having its open ends mounted on the stanchions;

(b) support arms mounted on the frame and extending rearwardlytherefrom;

(c) an annular ring mounted on the support arms and disposed inalignment with the open end of the drum; and

(d) braces mounted on the hopper and abutting on the ring when thesub-frame is lowered so as to support the hopper and position the chutein the open end of the drum. Y

3. A loading device as defined in claim 1, wherein the means forinterconnecting the hopper and the truck body frame comprises: a tensionmember pivotally mounted at one end of the hopper, and pivotally mountedat the other end on the truck body frame.

4. A loading device as defined in claim 3, wherein the tension member ispivotally mounted on the truck body frame at a point forward of thepoint of pivot of the sub-frame on the truck body frame.

5. A loading device for a tiltable transit mixer drum rotatably disposedon a sub-frame pivotally mounted on a truck body frame, which devicecomprises:

(a) stanchions mounted on opposite sides of the subframe;

(b) means on the stanchions for rotatably supporting the open end of thedrum in elevated position substantially in the vertical plane of theaxis of pivot of the sub-frame;

(c) an arcuate frame having its open ends mounted on the stanchions, theframe circumferentially surrounding the drum in spaced relationshipthereto;

(d) an annular ring supported by the arcuate frame and disposed inalignment with the open end of the drum in spaced relationship thereto;

(e) a lever arm having one end disposed rearwardly of the open end ofthe drum, and having its other end disposed forwardly of the open end ofthe drum, said lever arm being pivotally mounted on the annular ringintermediate the ends of the lever arm adjacent the top of the open endof the drum;

(f) a horizontally disposed annular ring mounted on the rear end of thelever arm;

(g) a hopper mounted on the horizontally disposed annular ring;

(h) a chute mounted on the hopper and freely disposed in the open end ofthe drum when the open end of the drum is elevated; and

(i) rigid means pivotally interconnecting the forward end of the leverarm and the truck body frame so that, when the sub-frame is pivotallyelevated above the truck body frame and the open end of the drum islowered, the hopper and the chute are swung away from the open end ofthe drum.

6. A loading device as dened in claim 5, including: braces mounted onthe horizontally disposed annular ring and abutting on the annular ringdisposed in alignment with the open end of the drum so as to maintainthe chute in position in the open end of the drum when the subrame is inlowered position.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,926,796 3/60Martinson 259-171 X CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner.

1. A LOADING DEVICE FOR A TILTABLE TRANSIT MIXER DRUM ROTATABLY DISPOSEDON A SUB-FRAME PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON A TRUCK BODY FRAME, WHICH DEVICECOMPRISES: (A) STANCHIONS MOUNTED ON THE SUBFRAME; (B) MEANS ON THESTANCHIONS FOR ROTATABLY SUPPORTING THE OPEN END OF THE DRUM IN ELEVATEDPOSITION SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE VERTICAL PLANE OF THE AXIS OF PIVOT OF THESUB-FRAME; (C) SUPPORT MEANS MOUNTED ON THE STANCHIONS AND DISPOSEDADJACENT TO THE OPEN END OF THE DRUM IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP TO THE OPENEND OF THE DRUM; (D) A HOPPER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON THE SUPPORT MEANSEXTERNALLY OF THE OPEN END OF THE DRUM; (E) A CHUTE MOUNTED ON THEHOPPER AND FREELY DISPOSED WITHIN THE OPEN END OF THE DRUM WHEN THE OPENEND OF THE DRUM IS ELEVATED; AND (F) MEANS FOR INTERCONNECTING THEHOPPER AND THE TRUCK BODY FRAME SO THAT, WHEN THE SUB-FRAME IS PIVOTALLYELEVATED ON THE TRUCK BODY FRAME AND THE OPEN END OF THE DRUM ISLOWERED, THE HOPPER AND THE CHUTE ARE PIVOTED ON THE SUPPORT MEANS TOSWING AWAY FROM THE OPEN END OF THE DRUM.